Letter: Kudos to the sign vigilante

Graphic by Lori Deaton

There is a vigilante roaming our fair city. I wish to commend the activist. I have occasionally helped with his or her silent but effective protest. This is a good thing.

I am speaking of the person responsible for blackening out the numerical portion of the “I-buy-houses” fast or with cash signs via the push-in-the-ground-type signs that litter many of our city’s street corners. Some of the signs are placed strategically high on utility poles as a deterrent, but not to our intrepid vigilante.

As determined as this activist is, the “business” that places and replaces their signs is no slouch, either! This has become a test of wills, and while mildly amusing to break up the monotony of the daily commute, it really should come to an end.

The city sign police came down on the East Asheville, “U-Haulywood” sign quickly; this, too, should get their attention. These overnight sprouted signs surely are illegal. Why not just call the number and tell the sign-planters to cease?

The vigilant vigilante does not just pluck them out of the ground but takes the time to black out the number and leave the sign in the ground as a reminder of its sponsor and to shame them. Some similar signs are temporary, such as “going out of business,” and though probably not legal, are not targeted by our vigilante friend. A thoughtful exemption that reveals their true methodology.

Kudos to the vigilante: thanks! We appreciate you. Now if the city will just help out the vigilante, the person(s) can move on to even greater civic involvement.

Sincerely,

— Ron Levitan
Asheville

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